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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Review: Don't Call Me Baby by Gwendolyn Heasley

Don't Call Me Baby by Gwendolyn Heasley

All her life, Imogene has been known as the girl on THAT blog.
Imogene's mother has been writing an incredibly embarrassing, and incredibly popular, blog about her since before she was born. Hundreds of thousands of perfect strangers knew when Imogene had her first period. Imogene's crush saw her "before and after" orthodontia photos. But Imogene is fifteen now, and her mother is still blogging about her, in gruesome detail, against her will.
When a mandatory school project compels Imogene to start her own blog, Imogene is reluctant to expose even more of her life online...until she realizes that the project is the opportunity she's been waiting for to tell the truth about her life under the virtual microscope and to define herself for the first time.
Don't Call Me Baby is a sharply observed and irrepressibly charming story about mothers and daughters, best friends and first crushes, and the surface-level identities we show the world online and the truth you can see only in real life.

I wanted to read Don't Call Me Baby because I liked the premise of being in the proverbial spotlight for her whole life and then her struggle to find the balance between letting her mom do her thing and having her own life.

I liked Imogene's voice. She seemed like a person that I could talk to and that I would like in real life. She respects her mom and that she gets her affirmation and has based a lot of her personality and identity through the blog and she doesn't want to disappoint her by asking for more privacy. But she is embarrassed that others, especially people that are actually in her whole life sees this image of her and her embarrassing moments and every detail of her life.

I loved the presents and themes of family and friendship in this one. Although Imogene feels smothered and overshadowed, and misunderstood because of how she is portrayed on the blog, you can still tell that her mom loves her. Understands her? No way, but she cares. Part of Imogene's growth was learning to speak her feelings instead of seething silently or being passive aggressive--both methods we see in this one for how she copes. Her plans to get back at her mom and open her eyes evolves in this one, and it causes some problems with her and her best friend Sage, who understands what Imogene is going through because her mom is also a blogger, a health food blog, and she forces her views and food on Sage. They bond and have been close friends for years, and I loved their easy conversation, and the light feel that there is between two teens who are so close for some time. We see the friendship tested in this one, and it is hard to read, but I did like the changes and epiphanies it caused the girls to have.

Imogene is also close with her golfing Grandma who lives with them. She is a smart lady and it is hard to see her torn between her daughter and granddaughter and helping them to see the other point of view while still affirming and listening to each's side. She is a cool old lady and the bond reminds me of my late grandmother in some ways.

The romance was fun and light. She'd had a crush on him for a while from afar, but they are finally in some of the same places at the same time. It is the awkward first real conversations and getting below the surface level. I liked how he was understanding but also wise and gives advice and insights without being too pushy or making her feel bad. He has a whole different growing up existance and can see how Imogene could feel misunderstood and written about too much, having no privacy, but he also sees the positives-- that she pays attention to the details of Imogene's life and that is her way of being involved.

Part of the story is told in blog posts, and while I normally don't like anything except narrative, this worked for me, and it came from both Imogene's mom, Imogene herself, and from Sage. They give a new insight into the characters and it flowed well.

The story did seem to change abruptly about fifty percent. I think that the transition and details of what brought Imogene to make such a turn in her tone and objectives needed a bit more time, but I still like the direction that the story went. I liked the story as a whole a lot, but I didn't rate any higher because I don't think it is a memorable enough story to stick with me. I think it is fun and great while reading though and still recommend.

It wrapped up well and was a fun read overall. It was pretty fast paced and character driven story.

Bottom Line: Fun story about a girl discovering her own identity and letting others see who she is outside of her mom's blog.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Have you ever been in the spotlight?

I've never been in the spotlight on my own (thank God- I'm awkward, it's embarrassing, ha.) I wanted to read this one because of the blogging thing and I was looking forward to that side of things, but ahh this one kind of annoyed me for a few reasons. Mainly because of her Mother and the fact she just couldn't see what she was doing. I loved the dynamic relationships though (especially how close she was to her grandmother) though I would've liked her Father to have taken a little more control and maybe talked to her Mother when she got out of hand. It was addictive though, so glad you enjoyed it a little more than me. :)

I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed as a whole since I've seen some pretty.. bad words about the immaturity and characters in this book. I'm also glad to hear that you felt the love on Imogene's mom's part. Yay that the blogging stuff worked for you :) Great review, Brandi! Ha, and nope, I don't like spotlight that much unless it's with people I love dearly :)

The whole blogging aspect sounds really interesting. I'm with you that I don't normally like a book told in any form other than narrative, but as a blogger, the blog posts do sounds like something I would enjoy. It's also great to see that her mother is actually present in her daughters life, although it may be too much, it's a nice change from the usually absent parents!

This sounds like a fun story, and (like everyone else, LOL) the blogging aspect makes it particularly interesting ;) I'll be adding this to my wishlist for sure! As for being in the spotlight myself--yes, I have, and it's not my favorite *wrinkles nose* Nothing big, I just used to sing a lot when I was younger . . .

I like the sound of the main character! I also like when MC has a strong voice as well! I also love the whole blogging theme, definitely draws my interest! Great review! I think I will have to check this one out :D

I would love to hear from you! (I always try to visit your blog back) I love links, so feel free to link to your blog or a post you like. Sorry, but I am award and tag free zone, I do not have the time to return. Comments are reward enough :)

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Welcome!

I am Brandi Kosiner and this is my personal book blog. I am a 30-something stay-at-home mom to two girls. I love going to Disney, playing video and board games with my husband. I love Young Adult books, with a focus on paranormal romance, fantasy, dystopia and contemporary, especially dealing with illnesses, tough issues such as cutting, eating disorders, issues at home, etc.

Feel free to contact me.with any questions or comments. I love to hear from you!

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I am a personal book blogger. I purchase my books for review, get them from a library, an arc tour, from author or publisher for review, but I am NOT PAID for this service. I do it for the love of books.

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